Furnace charging, controlling, and distributing mechanism.



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E. RAMSAY z J. J. SHANNON.

FURNAGE GHARGING, UONTROLLINGjAND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21, 19042.

no MODEL.

No. 721.088. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

E. RAM-SAY n J. J. SHANNON.

FURNAGE CHARGING, CONTROLLING, AND D'ISTRIBUTING-MECHANISM.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 00T. 21, 1902.

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` PATENTBD FEB. '17, 1903. E. RAMSAY '6; J. J. SHANNON. FURNACE GHARGING, ,GONTROLLINCM ANDDISTRIBUTING MBCHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERSKINE RAMSAY AND JOHN J. SHANNON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

FURNACE CHARGING, CONTROLLlNG, AND DISTRIBUTING Ml-ICHANISll/l.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,088, dated February 17, 1903.

Application filed October 2l, 1902. Serial No. 128,195. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Beit known that we, ERSKINE RAMSAY and JOHN J. SHANNON, citizens of the United States, and residents of Birmingham, Jederson county, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace Charging, Controlling, and Distributing Mechanism, of which the following is a speciication.

Our invention relates to blast and other metallurgical furnaces of alike nature which require means for feeding and distributing charges of material for treatment in said furnaces, and more particularly to mechanical means for feeding, controlling the delivery of, and distributing the material forming the charges into such furnaces, whereby uniform distribution of such charges in the furnace may be effectively attained and insured at all times.

With this general object in view our invention consists in mechanical means for disposing the separate charges at any desired parts or points in the furnace, whereby the material under treatment may be uniformily distributed within the furnace, and when for any causev the level is disturbed at any part of the charge in the furnace undergoing treatment the same may be expeditiously and effectively restored by such distributing means; and it further consists inthe novel construction, details thereof, and combination of parts for accomplishing the purpose indicated, as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a central vertical section of our invention applied to the main hopper of a blast-furnace. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional top plan View of the distributing and controlling box. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the upper or anxiliaryhopper. Figs. 4t and 5 are a side elevation and a top plan View, respectively, of a quarter-section of the distributing-box and motor-supportin g brackets. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the same; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7 V7, Fig/i. f l

Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference characters designate the same or corresponding parts in all the views, and

our improved mechanical distributing and controlling means supported by the hoppersupporting ring or'base of a blast-furnace to show the application of our invention thereto, it will be seen that the usual main feed-hopper structure 1 is suitably supported upon the usual base or foundation ring 6, adapted to be mounted on the furnace and surrounding the furnace-charging opening. This hopper 1 is preferably made in two sections-an upper section l, formed of plates united by fianges into a convenient shape, preferably a frustum of a cone of elliptical or cylindrical cross-section with the minor base uppermostand so formed this hopper-section is joined to a similarly-shaped lower but oppositely-- disposed section 2, having a suitable flange resting on a shoulder of the ring 6 and united tothe flange of the upper section, the whole being clamped by suitable bolts or clamping devices to the hase-ring 6. The lower section is provided with an inwardly-extending lateral iiange 2a, upon which a lip-ring 3 is supported by a corresponding lateral iange, while the lower peripheral edge of the ring is fitted to closely contact with the outer face of the main charging-bell 4, provided with the usual perforated boss 7 for attachment to the usual operating-rod.V (Not shown.) The upperl contracted opening of the main-hopper structure is surrounded, preferably, by a ring 19, the inner`edge of which extends laterally inward over the opening and is surfaced to fit tightly against the auxiliary bell or gas seal 8 and is clamped Abetween the flange 5a of the hopper l and the flange 12d of the box 12. This auxiliary bell or seal is provided with an up- Wardlyextending hollow stein 10, through which extends the usual operating rod or link ofthe main bell, (not shown,) and the upper end of said hollow stemis provided with suitable attaching means, such as ears or lugs 10, for engagement with the operatingdevices therefor, none of which are shown, as they form no part of our invention and may be of any approved type. In applying our invention to such a charging-hopper structure-for furnaces we surmount the mainhopper structure l with a distributing-box l2-,preferably-made in four sections for facility of constructionand of application, said sections being of the particularly Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7, by refer- IOO ence to which it will be seen that the upper parts of the said sections are rectangular or square in cross-section from the point12b, determined by the length of the controlling and distributing plates or valves 13, hereinafter particularly described, and taper from the latter point downwardly, the metal being gradually curved from said point until the lower edge 12c merges into a quadrant of a circle for each section, so that when joined together the sections will form a box, the upper part of which is square and the lower edge of which terminates in a circular opening, the inner edge of which opening receives the auxiliary bell 8 in close Contact therewith, so as to make a tight joint for a gas seal, as in Fig. 1. Each of the quarter-sections is provided with laterally-extending brackets 21, extendingr under the tiange'or plate 27h, laterally projecting from the top plate 27, the latter of which forms a part of or is secured to and inwardly overlaps the sides of the distributing-box anu extends outwardly to form a securing-flange 12e. Pivotally supported at the upper parts of and within the distributing-box on each of the four sides is a distributing and controlling plate or valve 13, secured to a rock-shaft 15, the pivotal support of which is located underneath and is covf ered and protected by the overlapping flange 12,so thatit may be protected from dust,small particles of material, &c. Each of the rockshafts 15 projects outwardly through a sleeve 22 and is provided with a slotted link or lever 20, engaging a pin 24 on the piston-rod 18 of the steam engine or other motor 16, in which a piston 17 is adapted to reciprocate, motive fluid being exhaustedto and from the opposite ends of said cylinder by means of pipes controlled by the valve 19a, operated by any suitable means and from any suitable point. The cylinder 16, it will be observed, is mounted upon the flange 27, which forms a shelf supported by the brackets 21, projecting from each corner of the distributing-box, so that for each of the plates or Valves 13 there is a motive-power cylinder operating through its piston-rod the rockshaft, on which the plates 13 are mounted by the intermediate connecting-link 20, the latter of which projects from a collar or sleeve 23, carried by or fixed to or forming part of the rock-shaft 15, through which link the pin 24 passes to secure the same to the piston-rod. Each of the valves or plates 13, it will be observed, is recessed at the center of its lower edge, as at 14, so that when the plate is swung into position (shown, for example, in Fig. 1) the said recess will closely contact with the side of the hollow stem 10, and by this means it is evident that when desired the auxiliarybell 8, so far as concerns its function of a gas seal, may be dispensed with by simply swinging two of the oppositely-disposed plates into such position, with the recesses fitting the opposite sides of the rod forming a close joint therewith, while the lower straight edges of the plates come in contact with each other, and thus form a gas seal. The upper or auxiliary hopper 11 surmounts the feed or distributing box 12 and is secured thereto, preferably Aby means of a flanged ring27,united to flanges 12c of the said box and the sides of the hopper 1l. Each of the piston-rods is preferably guided by bracketguides 25, secured to the sidesof the distribut- 'ing-box, and brackets 26, mounted in alineinent therewith on the sides of the box or secured to the outer bracket 21 of each set, and, if desired, the rock-shaft 15 may be formed with shoulders 15a and 15", adapted to contact with the inner faces of the sleeve 22 and the end wall of the distributing-box section opposite to said sleeve.

While we have shown a motor and specificallya fluid-pressure engine for operating the valves or plates 13, it will be understood that these valves may be operated through the medium of any suitable power mechanism, mechanical or otherwise-such, for example, as an electric motor-or by means of suitable connections with the skip hoist-motor of a blast or other furnace or with some moving part or element thereof with any suitable means known to those skilled in the art for periodically placing the valve mechanism in operative valve connection therewith.

It will be noted that where two bells are employed the upper one serves as a gas seal, because when it is closed and the lower one opened the said upper bell prevents the escape of gas from the furnace; but neither bell enables the restoration of the level of stock in the furnace when it becomes deranged, such function being possible only with the use of our distributing device. In a broad sense, therefore, our device not only controls the stock-level, but it may also take the place of the upper bell when the latter is not used, as may be the case in some instances, and thus serve as a gas seal as well.

Vith a construction made in accordance with the foregoing description it will be 0bserved that when it is desired to distribute the material toward any particular side of the furnace it is only necessary to raise the plates 13 to a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1, so as to direct the material from the auxiliary hopper 4 toward the opposite side of the furnace to that of the plate so operated, and each plate may be operated in succession to evenly distribute the material around the furnace, such material being delivered from the plate to that portion of the main hopper over the bell 4 situated above the point desired fordelivery of the charge in the furnace. If at any time the level in the furnace becomes disturbed, it is only necessary to operate the plate opposite the point so disturbed to discharge material thereinto, and thereby restore the level to its proper plane.

It will be understood that While the construction shown in the drawings is regarded by us at the present time as a preferable form IOO IIO

of our invention such form may be varied within the spirit and scope of our invention as covered by our claims without materially departing from our invention, and, as an obvious instance, it may be noted that the speciiic shape and numberof the valves, with the necessary shape of the internal surfaces of the distributing-box imposed thereby, may obviously be varied without such departure.

We claim as our inventionl. In acharging structure for metallurgica furnaces, the combination with the chargingopening, of a plurality of distributing-valves each for directing material toward a different part of the charging-opening, and means for separately opening said valves away from the center, substantially as described.v

2. In a charging structure for metallurgical furnaces, the combination with the chargingopening, of a distributing-box surmounting said opening, a plurality of valves pivoted at the top of said box, means for separately swinging the valves away from the center of and across the box to divert material toward different points of the opening, substantially as described.

3. In a charging struct-ure for metallurgical furnaces, the combination with the main charging-hopper structure, of a distributingbox surmountingthe same, pivotally-supported valves or plates in said box, and mechanism for swinging said valves separately toward the center of the box to divert material to dierent parts of the hopper, whereby the furnace charge may be distributed uniformly in the furnace, substantially as described.

4. In a furnace-chargingstructure,the combination with the main charging-hopper structure, of a distributing-box, valves pivotally supported therein at the upper part thereof, an overlapping flange covering the pivotal points of the valves, and mechanism for swinging the valves separately toward the central part of the box to distribute the material through the main hopper at different points, whereby the charge may be uniformlydistributed in the furnace, substantiallyas described.

5. Inafurnace-chargingstructure,the combination with a chargingopening, a main charging-hopper surmounting the same, `of a distributing-box mounted above said hopper having a rectangular upper portion, valves or plates pivoted at the upper parts of the sides 4thereof and adapted to swing toward the center of the box, the lower part of said box tapering to a circular opening, an auxiliary bell operating in conjunction with said opening, and mechanism for moving the valves separately, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a furnace-charging structure,tl1e combination with a main charging-hopper and a charging-bell operating therein, of a distributing-box surmounting said hopper, an auxiliary bell closing the lower end of said box,

having a stem extending upwardly through the box, valves in said box movable toward the center of the same, having recessed edges adapted to embrace the side of the stem, and mechanism for separately moving said valves, substantially as described.

7. Inafurnace-chargingstructure,thecombination with a main charging-hopper structure and an auxiliary feed-hopper above the same, of a distributing-box interposed between the said hoppers, distributing-valves movabl y operated toward and from the center of the box,and mechanism for separately moving said valves, substantially as described 8. Inafurnace-chargingstructure,the combnationl with a main charging-hopper structure and an auxiliary feed-hopper above the same, of a distributing-box interposed between thesaid hoppers, distributing-valves movable toward and from the center of -t'he box, and coacting with the sides thereof to distribute the material and mechanism for moving the valves consisting of motor-cylinders mounted upon the furnace structure and connections between said motors and the valves, substantially as described.

9. In a furnace-charging structure,the combination with a main charging-hopper structure and an auxiliary feed-hopper above the `same,'of a distributing-box interposed between the said hoppers, distributing-valves movable toward and from the center of the box, and mechanism for separately moving said valves, consisting of a motor for each valve mounted upon the fixed structure, and a link connection between the said motor and its respective valve, substantially as dedistributing-box xed above the same, valves pivotally supported therein and adapted to move toward the center thereof, a motor for IIO each valve supported by the fixed structure,

and a link connection between the motor and the valve, substantially as described.

12. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the charging-opening of the furnace, of a distributing-box fixed above the same, rock-shafts supported at the upper part of the sides of .the box and extending through the box,with rock-shaft arms thereon outside of said box, a valve on each rockshaft, a motor having a piston therein and a rod attached thereto, and a pin-and-slot connection between the rock-shaft arm and the piston-rod, substantially as described.

13. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the charging-opening, of a main-hopper structure, a charging-bell operating therein, an auxiliary hopper above the main hopper, of a distributing-box interposed between the said hoppers and having a lateral flange extending inwardly, Valves or plates pivotally supported under said lateral flange and coacting` with the sides of the box to distribute the material, and means for moving the valves, substantially as described.

14. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the charging opening thereof, of a distributing-box sui-mounting said opening, pivotallymounted valves in said box adapted to swing toward and from the center thereof, an overlapping flange covering the pivotal supporting-points of the valves, and mechanism for separately swinging the valves, substantially as described.

15. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the charging-opening, of a main-hopper structure, a charging-bell operating therein, an auxiliary hopper above the main hopper, of a distributing-boxinterposed between said hoppers having a lateral flange extending inwardly, valves or plates pivotally supported under and covered by said flange, and mechanism for separately swinging the plates toward the center of the box, substantially as described.

16. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the charging-opening, a main-hopper structure, a charging-bell operating therein and an auxiliary hopper above the main hopper, of a distributing-box interposed between said hoppers having an inwardly extending lateral flange, valves or plates pivotally supported under and covered lby the said fiange and provided with recesses in the lower edges thereof, an auxiliary bell closing the lower end of the box and having a stem projecting upwardly therefrom adapted to be engaged by the recesses in the said va-lves, substantially as described.

17. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the chargingopening, a main-hopper structure, a charging-bell operating therein and an auxiliary hopper above the main hopper, of a distributing-box interposed between said hoppers and having rectangular sides at its top merging into a circular opening at the bottom and having a lateral flange extending inwardly, valves or plates pivotally supported under and covered by the fiange and providedv with recesses in the lower edges thereof, an auxiliary bell closing the lower end of the box and having an upwardly-projecting stem adapted to be engaged by said recesses, substantially as described.

18. In a furnace-charging structure, the combination with the main-hopper structure, a charging-bell operating in the same, an auxiliary hopper above said main hopper, of a distributing box interposed between said hoppers and having rectangular sides at its top portion merging into a circular opening at the bottom and provided with an overlapping inwardly-extending flange at the top, an auxiliary bell operating in conjunction with said circular opening and having an upwardly-projecting stem, pivotally-supported valves or plates in the box covered by the flange of said box, andfhaving recesses in their lower edges adapted to embrace the stem, and mechanism for separatelyswinging the valves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERSKINE RAMSAY. JOHN J. SHANNON. Witnesses:

P. G. SHooK, A. B. TANNER. 

